Greenhouses are perfect for gardening enthusiasts who do not want to leave the results of their efforts to nature alone. This is because greenhouses offer a perfect controlled environment that provides the correct temperature and humidity levels throughout the year, regardless of climactic conditions. Moreover, greenhouses make it possible to grow a variety of exotic plants, including those that don’t normally thrive in certain regions.

When it comes to setting up greenhouses, planning is of the essence. After all, such structures do not come cheaply, and one must be certain that one is getting exactly what one needs. The things to factor in while planning a greenhouse are the which of the various types of greenhouses one wants, the accessories that will be required, where the greenhouse will be located and how much money it is going to cost.

The types of greenhouse one settles for should be dictated by the available space, what one hopes to grow there and whether one intends to cultivate on a professional or amateur level (in other words, hobby or commercial gardening). You can choose to have a small herb box, a portable version or even a full-fledged building, depending on your needs. The most popular and common kinds of greenhouses attach to an existing building, but many see more virtue in free-standing greenhouses.

Once the size and shape is decided upon, one needs to focus on the building materials to be used. In greenhouses, these materials are of paramount importance – not only because they will dictate most of the budget, but also because each material involves its own level of durability and maintenance. Certain materials used for greenhouses will require permanent foundations, while this is obviously not called for in portable greenhouses.

Free-standing greenhouses require a sturdy frame made of either strong wood or metal piping, while other models may only need plastic or aluminum frames. What frame is most appropriate depends on the coverings one intends to use. There is a range of transparent materials to choose from, including fiberglass, tempered glass or even plastic film. Each covering material has its own dynamics, as well advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, longevity and maintenance.

Accessories for greenhouses usually include watering devices, climate and light control equipment, planters and – if one does not intend to plant within the ground – appropriate containers. Locating and positioning greenhouses correctly is also important, since it is the location and position that will decide whether artificial lighting is required or not. It is best to locate greenhouses where they are exposed to as much sunlight during the day as possible. If this is for some reason not feasible, artificial lighting becomes mandatory – and the more of this you need, the greater the cost implications will be.

All of the above should illustrate the fact that planning greenhouses is very important, since going wrong on planning can involve a lot of wasted effort and enormous expense in the future.

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